Automatic cake baking machine



Jan. 6, 1953 c. E. NUTTALL AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKING MACHINE 2 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 14, 1942 INVE TOR.

ATTORNEYS Il lll) Jan. 6, '1953 c. EQNUTTALL 2,524,297

AUTOMATIC CAKE: BAKING MACHINE Filed 0G13. 14, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 n In i I a l I l A I 11; mii -r 2:1.

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BY CHA/91565. /M//f/'All/ A TORNE Y6' Jan. 6, 1953 c. E. NUTTALL AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. 14. 1949 IN V EN TOR.

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Wm) wmv A TTR/VEKS Jan. 6, 1953 c. E. NUTTALL AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKINC MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1949 QQ SCN@ C%\\ www H HFPUIHMI INVENTOR. cfa/ARMS f. /Varma/ BY d Vm A fran/v5 vs Jan. 6, 1953 c. E. NUTTALL AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 14, 1949 mdlhrnl.

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mdlgll 7 She'erls-Sheecv 5 Jan. 6, 1953 c. E. NUTTALL AuToMATIc CAKE BAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1949 Jan. 6, 1953 c. ENUTTALL 2,624,297

AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKING MACHINE AfOR/VEYS Patented Jan. 6, 1953 vUNITED STATES PATENT CFFICEy 2,624,297 AUTOMATIC CAKE BAKING MACHINE y Charles E. Nuttall, Sharptovvn, Md.

Application October 14, 1949, Serial No. 121,340

The invention relates to an automatic cake baking machine.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic cake baking machine capable of continuously baking cakes and other products in large quantities for commercial production.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cake baking machine capable of simultaneously baking cakes and other products from a plurality of different mixes separately and simultaneously discharged from a plurality of hopper outlets into a mold, and also baking from two different mixes discharged into the mold from a single hopper outlet to permit the use of two mixes in the same cake, whereby a variety of products may be simultaneously baked in the same mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cake baking machine having an endless mold conveyor arranged to carry molds after they have received a batch of mix from a hopper into and through an oven in which the mix is baked into cakes and which inverts the molds and conveys the same to a position outside the oven where the molds are automatically opened to discharge their contents.

Another object of the invention is to equip the baking machine with cooling trays automatically fed from a magazine and carried forwardly by a cooling tray -conveyor to a receiving position beneath a discharging mold.

It is also an object of the invention to provide molds each having a hinged top section or cover locked in a closed position while the molds are traveling through the oven and while the mix is being baked, and automatically unlocked when each mold has been carriedY to a discharging position above a cooling tray arranged in a receiving position. r

Another object of the invention is to provide a cake baking machine adapted immediately after a mold has received a batch of mix to close and lock the hinged top section or cover in a closed position and maintain the same locked while the mold is traveling through the oven and capable, after the mold has been carried out of the oven and has been opened and has discharged its contents, of locking and maintaining the mold in such open position until it has received another batch of mix, so that the mold in passing around the end of the conveyor in an open position will not be closed by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cake baking machine having an endless mold conveyor and an endless cooling tray conveyor nperated .from a Single source of power which also 2 claims. (c1. iov-58) ltaken longitudinally of .molds in end elevation;

operates means for supplying compressed air to conveyor controlled mechanism for automatically operating the mix depositar land the mechanism for automatically droppingonto the tray conveyor coolingtrays from a stack contained in a magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cake baking machine having an oven enclosing the major portion of the mold conveyor and provided with heating elements for baking the contents of the molds and having means for venting the oven for conveying away the fumes resulting from the baking oflthe mix contained within the molds. Y

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and lnovel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and'pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, m-ay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cake baking machine, partly in section, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional viewtaken longitudinally of themix depositor and showing a portion of the hopper;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged `detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a similar view t-aken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; v Y 4 Y Fig. 6 is` an enlarged detail sectional View on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Figr'; is a detail sectional View taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view, partly in elevation, of the right-hand end portionofFig-3; V

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view the oven showingv the Fig. l0 is a transversesectional view taken on the line lil- IVO of Fig.'9;

Fig. 1l is a detail side elevation of the tray feeding wheel;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view ofthe same taken on the line l2|2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 'is an enlarged longitudinal sectional 3 View similar to Fig. 9, the molds being shown in section;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing one of the molds passing around the front end of the mold conveying means and in open position;

Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the mold released and in position to be locked in closed position preparatory to passing through the oven;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail elevation illustrating the upper and lower means for tripping the locking mechanism of the molds;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail sectional Viewv taken substantially on the line I'I-I'I of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail perspective view of portions of the tray feeding mechanism;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing portions of thecooling tray mechanism and the cooling tray tripping. and feeding mechanism;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the lower portion ofthe magazine showing the tray supporting and feeding means;

Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view ofV one of the cooling trays;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the spirng return controlY valve of the tray feeding mechanism;

Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of theV ratchet mechanism of the tray feeding mechanism;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail plan view of one of the molds.;

Fig. 25 is a side edgeview illustrating the arrangement ofthe locking means of the mold;

Fig. 26 is a sectional view taken on the line 22S-26 of Fig. 28;

Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken on the line 2?-2'1 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 2811s a sectional view taken on. thev line 23-23 of Fig. 24 showing the mold in closed position;

Fig. 29 is a similar view showingthe mold in open position;

Fig. 30 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially on the line-3D-30 of Fig. 24 illustrating the position of the locking mechanism when the mold isclosed;

Fig. 31 is a similar View illustrating. the position of the locking means. when the mold is open;

Fig. 32 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the latches;

Fig. 33 is a detail vertical sectional viewl taken on the line 33-33 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, inywhich is illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, the automatic cake baking machine comprises in its construction a hopper I having a tapered lower portion 2 and having vertical partitions 3 and 4 dividing the hopper into separate mix compartments 5, 6 and 'I adapted to contain a plurality of different mixes for cakes and similai-l pro'ducts. The hopper.L also provided at the bottom Witha row of outlets 8, and is tapered at opposite#L sides of the. outlets for discharging the mix into an automatic multiple soft cake mix depositor` 9 which measures. and deposits the mix into molds I. Any number of' partitions and compartmentsl mayV be employed to provide a baking machine ofV the desired capacity and, as illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawings, the partition 3 may be arranged at a point intermediate of the ends Qi @Ii 01.113.151? E n for permitting the mix of two compartments to be fed through the same outlet for use in the same cake. The mix feeds by gravity to the ports at the bottom of the hopper and into the depositor by suction, as hereinafter fully described. Any suitable pressure means may be provided, if desired, to supplement the gravity feed of the mix to the bottom ports of the hopper.

The hopper is suitably supported by uprights II of a main frame, preferably constructed of angle iron, but any suitable material may, of course, be employed. The main frame is provided with corner posts or uprights l2 and ifa connected by longitudinal horizontally disposed side bars I5 and upper and lower transverse connecting bars I6 and I'I. Any other desired construction of the main frame or framework may, of course, be employed.

The mix deposit-or comprises in its construction an outer cylinder I8 and an inner cylinder or sleeve IS constructed ofv Monel metal, stainless steel or any other suitable material. The outer cylinder, which is provided at the top with inlet ports Z and at the bottom with outlet ports 2 I, is attached to the hopper by rivets, spot welding or other suitable means and is supported beneath the hopper by brackets |15 constructed of suitable metal and having a substantially semi-circular body portion to conform to the conguration of the outer cylinder and having its terminal portions provided with holes |17 to permit the brackets I'I5 to be fitted overv upwardly projecting studs |18 extending upwardly from transversely disposed angle iron bars or members |79 of the hopper-depositor supporting structure of the main frame. The studs are hollow and are provided with female threads for the reception yof thumb screws IBO. The brackets which are 'located adjacent the ends of the outer cylinder and which are arranged upon the upper portion thereof are secured to the same by spot welding or by any suitable means and the deposi-tor is stoutly supported in position and is adapted to withstand the push and pull of the pistons of the air cylinders, as hereinafter described, and any pressure necessary for the operation of the mix depositor is available. Y

The inlet ports are' arranged in alignment with the discharge outlets of the hopper and are alternately opened and closed by the inner sleeve I9 provided with one set of ports 22 which are carried by a rotary movement of the sleeve alterna'telyr into ,alignment with the inlet ports 2li and the outlet ports 2| of the cylinder to permit the mix to feed into separate compartments 23 of the inner sleeve and to discharge therefrom into the-molds.

The inner cylinder Ior sleeve, which may be constructed of any suitable metal, is rotated one-half of a. revolution by the means hereinafter described, and -it is retained within the outer cylinder and held. against longitudinal movemen-t by means oi collars24 secured by screws 2li@L to the ends of the inner cylinder which extend beyond the endsof the outer cylinder. The collars 24 are arranged in ush rela-tion with the periphery of the outer cylinder and with the -ends of the inner cylinder. The screws 2,4a which pierce the collars andthe extended `ends of the inner cylinder engage threaded holes 25 in the peripheries of end heads 26 and 21 which are rigidly secured within the ends of the inner cylinder.

The compartments 23 are formed by intermediate heads 2 8ar1d piston heads 29 located at opand have a -posite sides of the ports 22 when the latter regis ter'with the outlet ports of the hopper. c The intermediate heads consist of disks which are provided with central openings 30 and which are rigidly connected with a tubular piston rod housing 3| extending through the central openings of Ithe intermediate disk-s and through central cylindrical hub portions 32 of the piston heads. The ends of the piston rod housing extend through threaded connection with the end heads 26 and 21 and the saidhou'sing is provided intermediate of its ends with slots 33 through which pass pins 34 which connect the piston heads with the reciprocable piston rodv35, and permit the piston rod and the piston hea-ds to be moved toward and fro-m the intermediate heads 28. The piston rod, the tubular piston rod housing, the end heads, the intermediate hea-ds and the piston heads are inserted in the inner cylin- -der or sleeve as an assembly and, with the inner cylinder or sleeve, turn as a unit when the inner sleeve or cylinder is rotated to carry its ports from the inlet `ports 20 of the outer cylinder to the outlet port-s 2| thereof and to return the ports 22' of the inner cylinder or sleeve to the inlet ports 20 of the outer cylinder.

The inner cylinder or sleeve and the parts contained therein are rotated as a unit through one- 'half of a revolution by means of a rack bar 36 and a pinion or gear 31 xed to the end head 26. The rack bar 36, which is suitably guided, is connected at one end with the outer end of a piston rod 38 of a piston head 39 operating within a two-way air cylinder 43 connectedat its ends by suitable pipe connections 4| and 42 with a fourway air control valve 43 which is connected by a pipe connection 44 with an air storage tank 45. The four-way air control valve, which may be of any conventional construction, is provided with a spring loaded valve stem 46 and is arranged above an endless mold conveyor 41 at one side thereof and adjacent the front end of the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The valve stem which is provided at its lower end with a roller 48 to reduce wear, is moved in an upward direction by a cam'projection 49 carried by each of the molds |11. The upward movement of the valve stem 46 through the four-way valve introduces compressed air to the two-way cylinder 40 and exhausts air from Vthe other end of the same and thereby moves the piston and the rack bar 36 in one direction and rotates the pinion 31 one-half of a revolution and carries the ports 22 of the inner cylinder from the inlet ports at the top of the outer cylinder to the outlet ports at the vbottom of the same. When the cam projection 49 is carried away from the valve stem the spring thereof moves the valve stem inwardly and through the four-way air control valve, exhausts Yfrom the cylinder 40 the air which has actuated the piston and introduces air into the other end of the cylinder 40 and'returns the piston to its initial position. The pipe connection 44, which connects the air storage tank with the four-way air control valve, is provided with a manually operable valve D for cutting off the air from the storage tank to the valve 43;

The means for rotating the inner cylinder is located adjacent one end of the piston rod 35 which has its other end adjustably'connected by a threaded sleeve 5| with a piston 52 of'a twoway air cylinder 53 which is connected by pipe connections 54 and 55- 'with a four-way air control valve 56 having a spring loaded stem 51 and carrying a roller 58, the construction of the valve 56.being similarto that of valve 4,3. The fourway air control valve 56 is arranged in a vertical position above the endless mold conveyor at a point opposite the four-way air control valve 43, and it is adapted to be operated by cam projections 59 carried by each of the molds l0 at the right hand end thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig2 of the drawings.

When the projection 49 at the left vhand end of a mold -actuates the'air control valve 43, the piston in the air cylinder 40 moves forwardly, causing the inner cylinder of the depositor to revolve one-half turn, aligning the ports inthe inner cylinder with the ports at the bottom of the outer cylinder. The cam projection at the right hand end of the mold is positioned so that immediately after the inner cylinder has been rotated' onehalf a revolution, it actuates the air control valve 56 causing the piston in the air cylinder 53 to move forwardly, driving the heads in the depositor against the intermediate cylinder heads, forcing the mix out of the depositor and into the mold which is in receiving position beneath the depositor. The cam projection 49 at the left of the mold then releases air control valve 43, causing the piston in the air cylinder 40 to move back, thereby rotating the inner cylinder or sleeve onehalf of a revolution to re-align the ports in the inner cylinder with the ports at the top tof the outer cylinder. The cam projection 59 at the right hand end of the mold then releases the air control valve 56, causing the piston in the air cylinder 53 to move back, carrying the piston heads within the depositor away'from the intermediate cylinder heads, creating suction with draws more mix into the depositor, making it ready for the next cycle, The amount of mix deposited within the compartments of the depositor is controlled by regulating ther back stroke of the piston rod 35 by means of thethreaded sleeve 5| between said piston ,52 and the vpiston rod 35. The mix depositor is provided with a. drip cut wire |8| which is carried `by the inner rotary cylinder in the turning movement thereof and which is adapted to sweep across the outlet ports` of the outer cylinder while the same are open and a mold is open and is located below the mix depositor in position to receive a batch of mix. The drip cut wire, which may be of any desired gauge and which may be constructed of any other suitable material, such las a strip or ribbon of metal, extends lengthwise of the depositor. It is positioned from the ports of the inner cylinder and is suitably secured at its ends to the collars carried by said inner cylinder. The drip cut wire is located adjacent one of the outturned ends |16 of the bracket |15 when the ports of the inner cylinder are located at the bottom of the depositor and in registerV with the outlet ports of the outer cylinder, and when the inner cylinder is partially rotated to carry its ports from the bottom outlet ports of the outer cylinder to the upper inlet ports thereof, the drip cut wire is carried from said outturned end |16 of the bracket '|15 to the other outturned end thereof, sweeping across the outlet ports of the outer cylinder and in the reverse rotary movement of the 'inner cylinder the drip cut wirenis again causedA to sweep across the bottomV outlet portsof the outer cylinder. The drip cut wire crosses and re-crosses the bottom outlet ports of the outer cylinder during the rotary movements of the inner cylinder for cleaning the outlet ports. j Y

AThe Iendless mold conveyor `which is disposed horizontally, j comprises spaced y sprocket chains l'which` are :trained over f-ront'a'ndf rear sprocket wheelszgfflz and 62` mounted on transverse shafts 63 and 64Awhich are journaled in .suitable bearingst of the main frame.- The mold conveyor isnactuated by a motor 66, preferably of the electric type, having a shaft 61 connected by a clutch 68 with the shaft 69 of a speed reducer 19 having -a shaft 1| connected by sprocket gearing with the front transverse shaft 63. The sprocket gearingconsists of a. sprocket chain 12 of the roller drive type, trained over sprocket wheels 13 and unmounted-on the shafts 63 and 1|, as clearly illustratedv in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The molds |-each consist of a lower relatively fixed section 15 and an. upper hinged section or cover 16. The lower section or base 15 of the mold isprovided at. its ends with lugs 11 Vand 1.8l which are suitably secured to links of the sprocket chains of the mold conveyor. The mold sectionsland, 16 are provided withV spaced ears .1S-.and 89 through which passes a' pintle rod. 8| whereby the upper section or cover 16 is hinged tothe .lower section, 15.. The mold sections 15 and 16 are provided with registering correspondingly shaped mold cavities 82 and 83. The mold cavitiesmay loe-ofv any desired configuration for .bakingl cakes or other products of the desired shape.

vThe major portion of the .mold conveyor is arranged within an oven 84 having an insulated top or hood rprovided atV the rear end with a depending insulated wall 86 having a curved extension 61 at the lower end which forms the rear wall of the oven. The oven is provided with side walls- 88 and a bottom wall 89 consisting of a vhorizontal plate. extending. forwardly from the curvedextension 81-as clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings.v The hood of the oven is equipped with upper and lower heating elements 9|).v and 9|v which may consist of gas burners. The

upper and lower heating elements are connected with gas supply pipes 9-2 and 93 located below theupper and lower nights of the sprocket chains of, the. mold conveyor., The heating elements 99 and. 9| which are located beneath the molds are arranged close to the same so that heat is absorbed by the molds as they are carried through the oven by the upper and lower flights of the sprocket chains of the mold conveyor. A temperatureof approximately 350 F. is ample for baking purposes. Any other character or form of heating element may be employed.

.The .speed reduction gearing of the speed re- .ducer is such. that` the.. molds move continuously at a slow speed which carries them from the filling point through the oven to the discharging point. in approximately four minutes which is suicient to properly andsatisfactorily bake the mixV containedwithin the molds. .The insulated hood is provided at its rear portion with a vent opening 94 and fumes and also combustion gases resulting from the baking of the mix are vented through the opening by means of a vertical stack 9.5 having an, enlarged lower portion -96 receiv- .inggashortvertical outlet 91 extending upwardly from the insulated hood atthe opening 94. The stack 95 is provided ink its enlarged portion 96 with an inverted V-shaped bale 98 having downwardly dii/erging, sides which terminate a short distance from the side wallsr of the enlarged portion 96 ofthe stack to provide passages 99 for the escaping fumes. The baflie, while permitting the .escape of fumes to the stack, prevents a too great prevents' the gas flames from being extinguished l'loss/of .heat from the. oven andthebaie also l L positions. f

by down drafts.V Also, the enlarged portion 9 6 of the, stack has its side walls spacedfrom the side walls ofY the outlet 91 which provides air `passages and` which cuts down the suction eiect of the stack to prevent too great loss of heat from theoven. Any other suitablel means may, of course, be provided for controlling the flow. of air and fumes throughthe stack. The oven has anopen front' end and the insulated top wall or hood is provided at its front end with a short depending portion |09 toassist in confining theheatwithin the oven..

The molds, after receiving the mix from the depositar, are carried into vthe open front end of the oven in an upright position with their covers closed by the upper flight ofthemold conveyor and in passing around the rear sprocket wheels 62 of the mold conveyor are inverted, the covers being at the. bottomv and the. body portion of the mold at the top, as clearly illustrated in' Fig. 1 of theY drawings. In. order to lock the covers in their closed position and to retain them closed while the molds are traveling in an inverted position to the open front end of the oven'by the lower flights of the sprocket chains of the mold conveyor, each mold is provided with a pair of latchesVA |9| located. at. opposite sides of the center of the hinged sidefaces of the cover and the bottom section of the mold. The latches are similar in construction and a pair is provided in order to render the locking positive.- The latches |0|, which are arranged in a slightly inclined position, are pivoted at their upper ends, preferably by a continuous pivot rod |02 in recesses |03 of the cover of the mold, and they extend downwardly through recesses |04 in the lower section of the mold to a point below the mold and carry at their lower ends rollers |60 which reduces wear when they contact with latch tripping devices hereinafter described. Each latch .is provided with oppositely facing upper and lower shoulders |6| and |62 which are adapted to engage a keeper |63 at the-lower portion of the recess |94 for maintaining the cover of the mold in its open and closed positions. The keeper |63 preferably consists of an integral portion of the lower section of the mold and it bridges the recess |94 at the bottom thereof, but any suitable form of keeper for engagement by the latching portions of the latch IUI may, of course, be provided.

Each latch |0| is normally maintained in engagement with the keeper |63 by a coil expan- .sion spring, |64 mounted in a borecr socket |65 in the. hinged side edge of the'lower section of the mold and its outer portion is encased in a cartridge |66 which bears against the inner longitudinal edge of the latch. The spring permits the latch to befmoved inwardly o rback- Awardly and-to be held in a retracted position and it operates to move thelatch automatically back into its engaging position as soon as the latch is free to move. The lower engaging or latching portion of the latch |9| engages theupper race of the keeper |63 when thecoverofthe mold is closed and Vwhen thecover. of the moldisopen the latch |0| is moved longitudinally in a-down- Ward direction to carry its upper engaging or latching portion |6| into engagement with `the lower face of the keeper, whereby the cover is maintainedin an open position. The coil spring merely moves the latch. into engagement with the keeper and is not subjected to the stress incident to holding the cover in. itsopenv or closed The rollers isn ex'ten'aiateraiiy irrt/relyirm the lower ends of the latches and when each mold is carried by the lower sprocket chain out of the front open end of the oven to a position above a cooling tray the rollers |60 of the latches are engaged by a lower horizontal tripping plate or member |61 located in the path of the rollers and adapted to carry the latch engaging shoulder |62 out of engagement with the keeper |63 and release the inverted cover of the mold, which opens automatically by gravity and the baked contents of the mold are discharged into the cooling tray |05.` Substantially simultaneously with the opening of the mold the engaged roller is carried out of engagement with the lower tripping member |61 and the latch is actuated by the coil spring |64 and the shoulder |6| engages the keeper |63 and latchesthe cover of the mold intits open position and maintains the mold in its open position asjit is carried around the front sprocket wheel 6| and until itarrives at a point beneath the mix depositor and receives a batch of mix. The end portions of the lower tripping bar |61 form ngers for engaging the latches in the tripping' operation thereof.

After thel mold has received a batch of mix from the depositor it is carried toward the open front end of the oven and the open hinged section or cover 16 is engaged by a roller |06 which is located in the path of the open hinged section or cover, and as the mold passes beneath the roller the cover is closed. Substantially simultaneously with the engagement of lthe hinged cover 16 of the mold with the roller |06 the latch is tripped and the open cover is released by means of an upper vertically disposed tripping bar or member |68. The closing of the cover of the mold raises the latch |0| and 'the spring |64 moves the lower latch engaging shoulder |62 into engagement with the vkeeper |63 and the cover is locked in its closed position while it is being conveyed through the oven.

The lower tripping bar or member |61 is rigid with the lower end of a bracket |69 consisting of a vertical bar having its upper end |10 extended upwardly at an inclination and forming a support for a bowed snubber spring |1| curved longitudinally and extending downwardly at opposite sides of the bracket. The terminal portions of the snubber spring are located in the path of the rollers |60 of the latches and the spring which is deected by said rollers |60 cushions the closing movement of the cover and `prevents the same from slamming.

The bracket |69 is bolted or otherwise secured to the front wall |82 of a, rectangular box or casing |83 which forms a combustion chamber' |84. The front wall |82 of the combustion chamber also has mounted on it at opposite sides laterally spaced horizontally disposed studs |12 which slidably receive the upper latch tripping bar or member |68 and Vwhich also have mounted on them coil springs |13 interposed between the front wall |82 of the box or ycasing |83 and which yieldably urge the upper latch tripping bar or member |68 outwardly and enable the same to compensate for any misalignment of the latches of the mold and prevent any jamming of the parts.L The end portions of the upper latch tripping bar |68 form fingers for engagement with the rollers l| 60 of the'latches |0|.

The box lor casing which forms the combustion chamber is arranged between the sprocketchains of the mold conveyor Vand extends substantially from vthereartransverse shaft 64 -to within a 'short distance ofv the front transverse shaft 63 and is of a width substantially equal to the length of the molds. The said box or casing |83 may be constructed of sheet metal or any other suitable material and it is open at the top and it is drilled at one side for the gas burners and is provided at the opposite side with an air inlet opening' |85 which coincides with an lair inlet opening |86 of the adjacent side of the oven. The side walls of the box or casing |83 are also provided with slots |81 through which pass transversely disposed bars |88 which are secured to the main frame of the machine and which support the box or casing |83.

The oven encloses practically the entire conveyor assembly and the combustion chamber coniines most of the heat to the desired area and concentrates the heat upon the bottoms of the Ymolds carried by the upper flights of the mold conveyor chains. The.box or casing also prevents COz gas given 01T by the lower burners from snuing the names of the upper burners by bypassing said gas around the rear end of the combustion chamber. Fresh air for supporting combustion at the upper burners is obtained through the inlet openings |851 and |86 of the boxor casing |83 andthe side wall of the oven.

The four-way air controlvalve 56'is connected .with the air storage tank 45 by a pipe connection 44a which is provided with a manually operable valve 50a for cutting oi the air from the storage tank to the valve 56.

Compressed air is supplied to the `air storage tank under a constant pressure by an air compressor |01 of any desired construction connected by a pipe( connection |08 with the air `storage tank 45 and operated Vby motor 66. Motion is communicated from the motor shaft 61 to the compressor shaft |09 bya belt ||0 and `pulleys and ||2 mounted, respectively, on the motor shaft 61 and the air compressor shaft |09. Any other suitable means may, of course, be employed for actuating the air compressor. The clutch 66 may be of any desired construction and any suitable means may be provided for manually operating the same. The clutch will enable the air compressor to be operated by the motor independently of the speed reducer and the conveyors.

The cooling trays |05, `which are rectangular, may be constructed of stainless steel or any other suitable material and are preferably of rigid onepiece construction having a bottom perforated with inch square holes ||3 with one-half inch between centers, lengthwise and crosswise. ,The openings may be of any other desired coniiguration, as will be readily understood. The sides are provided at the top with downwardly extending anges ||4 to prevent the trays from nesting when stacked in a magazine ||5. The vsides of the cooling trays are provided at each end with slots ||6 extending approximately halfway up the sides at each end of the tray, the slots being wide enough to receive teeth ||1 of a tray feeding wheel H8. The magazine I5 is formed' by corner uprights ||9 and |20, the uprights |20`consisting of extensionsof the uprights |4 of the main frame. The uprights ||9 and |20 are 'preierably formed of metal T-shaped in cross section and the cooling trays are arranged in a vertical stack which rests at the corners ofthe lowermost tray upon the teeth |1 of the tray feeding -wheels ||8. The uprights of the magazineform a rack for the stack of trays and the 'T-shaped metal uprights form guides for the cooling trays of the stack which may consist of any desired number of trays. The Atray feeding wheels which "are mounted on parallel horizontal shafts |2| are six-toothed wheels provided .at the ends of the teeth I with rollers |22 to take up wear. While the rollers |22 are shownmounted on the teeth of the tray feeding wheels IIB they may (be mounted thereon in any other desired manner. As the tray feeding wheels |I8 turn, the teeth successively extend about rof an inch'into the slots in the corners lof the trays. The shafts I2 I, which are located at opposite sides of the magazine, are journaled in suitable bearings of 'the uprights IIB and |20 'and they are actuated by 6-to-1 worm gearing 'consisting of Vworm wheels |23 mountedfon the shafts |2| and vmeshing with worms |24 of atransverse'shaft |25 ljournaled in suitable bearings |26 mounted on the uprights |20. When the `shafts |2| are rotated by the shaft |25, vone tooth of Veach tray feeding wheel I8 moves *from under' the lowermost cooling tray and permits the lsame to 'drop pon an endless 'conveyor `|2`| which conveys the'cooling trays from a point beneath the magazineto 'a receiving position at the front of the machine. 'As one tooth of each of the tray feeding wheels IIS moves from under 'the lowermost tray, the latter is fed downwardly and the next succeeding tooth moves into position for supporting Vthes'tack of trays until the vnext tray-feeding operation occurs.

The conveyorfor'the cooling trays is composed of endless chains '|28 arranged on 'front and rear sprocket wheels |29 and |30 mounted upon transverse shafts |3| and |32 `journaled in suitable bearings of the main iframe. The sprocket chains rof `the cooling tray conveyor are provided at 'the vouter lfaces of the links with'vertical projections |33 "adapted to `extend into the `holes at the bottomof the vcooling'trays for connecting the cooling trays to the conveyor, for positively, conveying the 'trays forwardly to the Vfrontof the machine "where the main frame is provided i'with a vhorizontal table |34 arranged to Vreceive the 'trays as they'are discharged from the tray conveyor. The vertical projections are A'preferably arranged at '10 inchintervals and fa're transversely aligned Yand the 'cooling tray conveyor extends beneath the magazine approximately half-way kbetween the front and iback 'thereof V`so that kwhen ya cooling tray is dropp'edfrorn'the magazine onto the cooling tray conveyor, only one pair of transversely aligned projections of the sprocket chains |20 will be presented to thetrays-so that the'projections will positively ngage'perforations in'the bottoms of the trays. Each tray is .supported by the sprocket chains ofthe coolin'gtray conveyorand V|39 loose on the shaft |25 and engaged by a pawl |40 piyoted to arotary member |4I xed to the Vshaft |25. vThe rotary member |4| is preferably inthe-form of adisk or wheel and the pawl |40 is actuated by aespring |42 which maintains the pawl |40 inengagement with the gear or pinion |39. YThe one-way air pull cylinder, which is arranged horizontally, is provided at one end withan attaching-portion |43 secured to a transverse framefmember |44. The other end of the cylinder |35 is connected byalpipe connection |45 with the air storage tank 4'5Aandwhen .air is admitted into the cylinder |35 the piston yrod |37 is moved vinwardly-or forwardly and the -rack bar I 38 rotates the gear or .pin-ionl`39 whichis engaged by thepawl |40 and vwhich carries with it the rotary member I4 |j and-the shaft AI 25. AThis results in the rotationfo'f the shafts V|2| and the tray feeding wheels IIB and the dropping of the bottom cooling tray ontot'herconveyor. y.When the piston |31 is free vto move, it is moved outwardly or rearwardly and returnedio its initial position by a coil spring] '4B disposed on the piston and interposed .between the nrear Yend of "the .Cylinder |35 and fa collare or. flange |41 provided at the rear endofrthepi'ston. 'Ihe-i'ac'klbar "|38jis suitably secured totl'ie oiiter `end Vof 'the "piston rod and may befgided'by any suitable-'means The ipassage of. compressed' .airgfrom the storta-ge tank tothe one-way p-ull'iyl'inde'rjis'controlled by a control 'valve "ma operated-by ia'lfever; amme hinged at one end'IEOf-to' the framelrnemberIM and arrangedhorizontally approximately in the plane of the upper 'iii'ghts'of the sprocket chains of the cooling vtrayrcor'nieyor in position to be engaged and actuated .byY atray 'fed from the magazine Vonto "thfevc'oo'ling tray conveyor.V The lever arm V|49 'is provid'edat 'its free `end with 'lat'- erally extendingfrollersFISI "and the `lever arm is located abovethe 'Stem'ofthe'air control valve |43 and is adapted to be moved V dov/iowa'rdly and operated by a' tray dropped Afrom themagazine. The air control valve "mais a spring returned valve'and its piston 'is V"riioved outwardly. by a spring in the usual manner which also raises the lever arm |49. Whena 'deposited tray "is carried forward bythe'tray conveyor therollers 15| at the free'endof the lever arm A|49 "clear thebottom of the tray, permitting jthe 'arm to ri'se andthe air control Valve 'Iljto open. vCompressed -air enters the cylinder "|35 'pulling the rack 'bar ,|33 inwardly and rotating the spur; gear or pinion |39jand the shaft I25fforwardly- V'The"transverse shaft |25 and the worms |224 'rotate Ionecorriplete revolution and turnpthe trayfeeding'wheels the distance of uone tooth, l"causing the trayjfeedin'g wheels to release the botto'mtray andengage-the succeed-ing'tray. The released bottom tray drops onto-the Atray r'conveyor' l'andfisfl engaged by 'the 4chain projections which extend ithrough the pervZo'nt'ally disposed'endlessmld conveyorlcomprising laterally spaced sprocket chains and sprocket wheels' meshing 'withland supporting the chains, molds secured to the links' of" theconveyor chains and vhaving l hinged lvcovers and carried: in -an upright position'by theupperightsoffthe sprocket chainsy and in an inverted:positionlby. thellower flights -of the sprocketrchains, llatches pivotally mounted on the-hingedcovers ofthe moldsand `having' latching portionsarranged to. lock thecov- 13 ers of the molds in their closed and open positions and projecting beyond the molds, upper and lower tripping ngers arranged to engage the latches to release the same to permit the covers to close and also to permit the covers to open when thev molds are in an inverted position for discharging their contents and for causing the latches to lock the covers of the moldsin an open position to receive a batch of mix, and a snubber arranged to be engaged by the latches for cushioning the closing movement of the covers to prevent the same from slamming.

2. A cake baking machine including a horizontal oven open at one end" and closed at the other, an endless horizontally disposed mold conveyor extending into the oven and throughout substantially the length of the same and comprising laterally spaced sprocket chains and sprocket wheels meshing with and supporting the chains, a substantially rectangular casing located between the sprocket chains and forming a combustion chamber, molds secured to the links of the conveyor chain and having hinged covers and carried into the oven in an upright position by the upper iiights of the sprocket chains and out of the oven in an inverted position by the lower ights of the sprocket chains, latches mounted on the covers of the molds and having latching portions arranged to lock the covers of the molds in their closed and open positions, a bracket secured to the front wall of the casing and provided with lower fingers arranged to trip the latches to open the molds for discharging their contents and adapted to engage the open covers for locking the same in an open position, studs mounted on the front wall of said casing, an upper tripping device slidably mounted on the studs and forming ngers for engaging the latches CFI 14 to release the covers of the molds to permit the same to close, means for yieldably urging the upper tripping device outwardly on said studs, a snubber spring carried by said bracket and arranged to be engaged by the latches for preventing the covers in their closing movements from slamming, and means for positively closing the covers of the molds.

CHARLES E. NUTTALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 398,584 Crandell Feb. 26, 1889 967,147 Trewick Aug. 9, 1910 990,577 Mayle et a1 Apr. 25, 1911 997,554 Holmes July 11, 1911 1,171,447 Lawhead Feb. 15, 1916 1,238,544 McGowan Aug. 28, 1917 1,303,128 Takahashi May 6, 1919 1,303,218 Esselmann May 6, 1919 1,333,781 Shaut Mar. 16, 1920 1,345,079 Fisch June 29, 1920 1,501,494 Matsuo July 15, 1924 1,823,151 Lanier Sept. 15, 1931 1,880,753 Brand Oct. 4, 1932 2,089,385 Llewellyn Aug. 10, 1937 2,291,097 Mooney July 28, 1942 2,462,021 Harker Feb. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 30,760 Netherlands Sept. 15, 1933 270,862 Great Britain May 19, 1927 

